Fiber blender



p 1965 J. l. KOTTER ETAL 3,208,107

FIBER BLENDER sa l I 9' lo u 5"" E g- 155 O i u INVENTORS m I EL Jg E WA LL ZCE ATTORNEY P 1965 J. 1. KOTTER ETAL 3,208,107

FIBER BLENDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed NOV. 19, 1962 INVENT 01B JAMS I. KOTTER EUGENE F- WALLACE HAROLD L.SALAUN RALPH A-RUSCA ATTORNEY Se t. 28, 1965 J. l. KOTTER ETAL 3,208,107

FIBER BLENDER Filed Nov. 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JAMES L KOTTER EUGENE F. WALLA E HAROLD L.sALAuN, RALPH A. RUSCA BY 2 g ATTORNEY United States Patent M ture Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,815 Claims. (Cl. 19145.5) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 2.66)

A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, for all governmental purposes, throughout the world, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a method and machine for use in opening and blending fibers directly from baled lint cotton; however, it may be used in the processing of synthetic fibers, wool, ramie, jute, flax, et cetera.

In textile processing, blending has become a necessity in todays highly competitive textile market. Especially in cotton processing, blending enables the use of lower grades of fibers while maintaining an equal or better quality product.

Among the disadvantages inherent in the fiber blending machines in use today are the incomplete blending or mixing of fibers and the extremely limited blends obtainable with one machine. For example, to obtain a ten-bale blend at any instant of operation ten blending machines are required to be in operation.

Utilizing the method and one of the machines of our invention, a blend of fifteen or more bales is easily obtainable. With the use of more than one of our machines the ultimate bale blend need only be limited by the practical number of machines put into use at a given location. A seventy-five bale blend would require only five such machines as herein described.

It is one object of this invention to provide a machine that Will open and blend fibers more efficiently.

Another object of this invention is to blend cotton from a large number of bales by the use of a single machine. These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by means of our invention which is described below.

In general, in accordance with the present invention, a bale composed of a single variety of fibers, or a composite bale made up of a plurality of varieties, is forced against cylinders provided with a plurality of hooked teeth. These cylinders are mounted in a travelling head unit at one end of the machine, the head unit itself being so mounted as to move across the face of the bale with a reciprocating movement. The distance traversed by the head unit is such that, in a single pass across the face of the bale, the hooked teeth will plulf tufts of fibers from the entire cross section of the bale presented to them. For example, a composite bale can be made up of horizontal layers stacked upon one another until a predetermined height is reached. The shape of the made up or sandwich bale is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. The sandwich bale is compiled on a portable truck which during operation becomes an integral part of the machine. The fiber blender removes fibrous tufts from each of the layers simultaneously. This is accomplished by the mechanism of the above mentioned head unit traversing across the face of one end of the composite bale as the bale is moved forward by a constant force. One complete cross-sectional increment of the bale is removed every traverse, thus a complete mixture of fibers is attained each half reciprocation.

Although the machine is described using a composite or made-up bale, it is not restricted to the use of this 3,28,l7 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 type bale. The standard fiber bale may be used; however, the blend will be limited to a one-bale blend per machine. Furthermore, Whereas the layers of the bale are herein described and shown in a horizontal position, which is the preferred arrangement, the successful performance of the machine of this invention is not so limited since the layers may also be in vertical or slanted positions.

These and other objects that will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by our invention.

The fiber blender, according to the invention, is described in detail below and in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a three-dimensional view of the invention with portions broken away to show internal construction.

FIGURE 2 represents a partial cross-sectional side elevation of the machine with portions broken away to show internal construction.

FIGURE 3 represents a view of the holdback bar assembly.

FIGURE 4 represents a side view of the reciprocating head assembly partially broken away to show doffer drive.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, it is seen that the machine is constructed of a plurality of joined horizontal beam members and vertical columns forming a framework indicated generally by 13. The framework comprises rearwardly extending beams 67 and 68 joined to transverse beams 28, 69, and 70, forming an upper rectangular support frame, and rearwardly extending beams joined to transverse beams 29 (FIGURE 2) and 73 forming a lower rectangular support frame. These upper and lower rectangular support frames are secured to and supported by columns 23, 24, 74, 75, 76, and 77 which also serve as the legs for the machine.

Beam 67 has secured beneath it a rail 17 (FIGURES 1 and 2) and a corresponding rail 18 is secured beneath beam 68. Rails 17 and 18 serve as guides and supports for a pusher dolly, indicated generally by 20. This dolly comprises a flat plate 78 rigidly suspended from truck 7 9 which rides on wheels 16 and 80 on rail 17 on one side of the machine (FIGURES l and 2) and from a corresponding truck (not shown) riding on rail 18. The dolly is connected, by means of a pair of cables 19 to weights 21 and 22 which are suspended within hollow columns 23 and 24 (FIGURES 1 and 2).

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that lower beams 71 and 72 extend only partially back from the front of the machine to provide side access from either side for hand truck 12 which is provided on each side with vertical confining rollers 15 and horizontal supporting rollers 14. The distance between vertical rollers 15 is the same as that between vertical rollers 26 on the machine itself.

In use, where it is intended to blend a variety of fibers, a composite sandwich bale, designated generally by 25, is formed on truck 12 by placing on it a plurality of layers 11 (FIGURES l and 2) approximately two inches thick. The thus formed composite sandwish bale is then carted on the truck into the opening in the machine formed by overhanging beams 67 and 68 and vertical support columns 74, 76, and 77. As can be seen from FIGURE 2, the rolling platform of the truck, formed by rollers 14, is the same height above the floor as the platform in the machine formed by horizontal transverse rollers 81. At this time the dolly 20 is in its rearmost position (FIGURE 1) and held there by any suitable latching means (not shown).

Conveyor rollers 82 mounted horizontally are provided at the top of the fiber blender at the location immediately above the hand truck when the latter is in position in the blender. With the hand truck in position, but before the fiber bale is moved forward from the hand truck into the roller channel of the fiber blender, the fiber bale is supported at the bottom by horizontal rollers 14 mounted on the hand truck, confined on two opposite sides by vertical rollers 15 mounted on the hand truck, and confined at the top by horizontal rollers 82 mounted on the fiber blender. The loaded hand truck 12 is manually pushed into the side of the fiber blender 13. When the truck 12 reaches its correct position, the electrical drive systems are started. The pusher dolly is released and pulled forward by cable 19 attached to weights 21 and 22, located in forward columns 23 and 24. Subsequently, the bale 25 is moved forward into the roller channel 83 constructed of a multiplicity of conveyer rollers 81 and 82 mounted horizontally bottom and top, respectively, and rollers 26, mounted vertically on each side. The bale 25 is held back or restrained by the tension bars 27 as a constant force is applied by the pusher dolly 20.

Referring again to FIGURES l, 2, and particularly to FIGURE 3, the tension bars 27 are mounted parallel through frame cross members 28 and 29 which are fastened to columns 23 and 24. The tension bars 27 are spaced to allow passage of'hooked teeth 30 mounted on periphery of two main processing cylinders 31 and 32. The hooked teeth 30 revolve through the interstices of the parallel tension bars 27, extracting tufts from the bale 25 as the head assembly 33 moves up and down. The dead weight feed system allows the bale 25 to move back freely when excessive forces are exerted on the bale 25 during the process of extracting the fibrous tufts 35, thereby eliminating fiber damage and chokage.

Referring again to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, tension bars 27 are placed under tension by standard means, such as nuts 34 located at each end of the bars 27 above and below frame cross members 28 and 29, respectively. The nuts 34 are tightened by a torque wrench to a predetermined tension which allows minimum tension bar 27 deflection without deformation. To insure maintenance of the desired tension under continual operation, locknuts 66 are used.

The reciprocating head assembly 33, enclosed in housing 84, is composed of three pairs of rotatable cylinders. The main processing cylinders 31 and 32 have the aforementioned hooked teeth 30 mounted on their peripheries.

They perform the function of extracting or pulling fibrous tufts 35 directly from the bale 25 as it is held tightly against the tension bars 27, by the action of the pusher dolly 20. The upper processing cylinder 31 and the lower processing cylinder 32 rotate in the direction shown.

Fibrous tufts 35 are extracted from bale 25 and held by each tooth 30 of main processing cylinders 31 and 32, until removed by the doffer cylinders 39 and 40.

Comber cylinders 36 and 37, having straight pins 38 mounted on their peripheries, mesh with main processing cylinders 31 and 32, to transform larger tufts into small uniform tufts. Where tuft size uniformity is of less concern, the comber cylinders 36 and 37 may be eliminated without impairing the operation of the machine.

As seen from FIGURE 2, comber cylinders 36 and 37 and the main processing cylinders 31 and 32 are driven in the direction shown by the arrows by the hydraulic motor 41 through gear train 42. The two hydraulic lines shown on the hydraulic motor 41 are the incoming fluid line 43 from the hydraulic pump (not shown), and the outgoing fluid line 44 to the fluid storage tank (not shown).

The dolfer cylinders 39 and 40, rotatably mounted are supported by bearings 45 (FIGURES 1 and 4) attached to inner side plates 46 (FIGURES 1 and 4). The doifer cylinders 39 and 40, having straight pins 47 peripherally mounted preferably with a slight rearward inclination, mesh with both the main processing cylinders 31 and 32 and the comber cylinders 36 and 37. The function of the doffers is to remove all fibrous tufts 35 from these cylinders and discharge the tufts 35 by centrifugal force into chutes 48 and 49. The tufts 35 fall by gravity and 4 by the movement of the head assembly 33 (FIGURES 1, 2, and 4) onto a conventional conveyance such as a conveyor belt or a suction duct which transports the fibrous tufts to the next textile process.

The doffer cylinders 39 and 40 preferably have a double-V belt drive 51 (FIGURE 4), which is independent of the processing and comber cylinder drive, gear train 42. This reduces the possibility of choking or clogging within the reciprocating head assembly 33 (FIG- URES 1, 2, and 4).

The doffer cylinders 39 and 40 are driven in the direction shown by the electric motor 50 (FIGURES 1 and 4) through belt drive 51 (FIGURE 4).

Referring to FIGURE 2, reciprocating head assembly 33 is constructed to form two separate passages 48 and 49 for the cotton tufts 35 to follow. These passages are formed by fiber deflectors 52, 53, 54, and 55. Although the fiber deflectors are shown as part of the head assembly 33 described herein, the invention is operative Without their use. They provide balanced fiber distribution to each cylinder and ease of flow through passages.

To enclose and protect the gear and belt drives from dust, fiber, and other foreign matter, removable side cover plates 56 and 57 and front plate 85 (FIGURE 1) are installed onto head assembly 33.

The cylinder surface speed ratios are generally as follows: The comber cylinders 36 and 37 rotate with half the surface speed of the main processing cylinders 31 and 32. The doifer cylinders 39 and 40 rotate with 15 to 20 times faster surface speed than the main cylinders 31 and 32 and 30 to 40 times faster than the comber cylinders 36 and 37. These ratios of surface speed may be varied. Other ratios may result in optimum operation deficiencies for other textile fibers.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the head assembly 33 is moved up and down by double action, double rod end hydraulic cylinders 58 fastened to both sides of head assembly 33 at points 60 and 61. The rods 59 of hydraulic cylinders 58 are mounted to column supports at points 62 and 63.

The hydraulic cylinders 58 receive and discharge hydraulic fluid through ports 64 and 65 which are connected by means of conduits (not shown) to a valve and hydraulic pumping system (also not shown). The valve and other components of the hydraulic system are conventional, commercially available items Which are familiar to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail. In FIGURE 2, the dotted portions indicated by A and B represent the upper and lower limits of travel by the head assembly, respectively.

The invention is not limited to the use of hydraulics as a means for moving head assembly 33 up and down, or driving the working cylinders 31, 32, 36, and 37, for example, mechanical or pneumatic means could be employed.

When reloading the fiber blender 13 with a new cotton bale, another truck the same in construction as truck 12 is pushed into the fiber blender 13 in the same manner as previously mentioned, thereby forcing the empty truck 12 out of the confines of the fiber blender 13.

To those skilled in the art of textile machinery design and construction it is obvious that the loading and feeding operation of the machine 'herein described can be automated through the application of suitable belts and sheaves, or chain and sprockets, or gears, to move the loaded cart to within the confines of the machine. Also, automatic means such as an electric motor and suitable actuating switches can be used to control the pusher dolly 20.

We claim:

1. A machine for opening and blending staple fiber comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongated members joined to form a rigid framework defining a rectangular parallelepiped having an open front face and an open rear face;

(b) a plurality of freely rotatable vertical and hori zontal, parallel, cylindrical rolls transversely journalled in said elongated members, said rolls defining top, bottom, and side walls of a fiber container portion of said framework;

(c) a plurality of stationary, parallel, spaced holdback bars mounted across the front face of the framework a grid-like closure for the front end of said framework;

(d) a reciprocating head assembly mounted on the framework in front of said holdback bars, said head assembly comprising a housing, a plurality of parallel fiber processing cylinders ecah provided with a plurality of peripheral teeth and rotatably mounted in said housing and axially disposed transverse to the direction of the holdback bars, combing and dofiing cylinders corresponding to and coacting with each fiber processing cylinder also rotatably mounted within said housing, means for driving said fiber processing and combing cylinders, nad separate means for driving said doffing cylinders, the holdback bars and processing cylinders being so disposed that said holdback bars are aligned tangentially with respect to said fiber processing cylinders, the space between individual bars being sufficient to permit the peripheral teeth on said fiber processing cylinders to project into the container portion of the framework, the holdback bars further being of sufiicient length to provide a plurality of unobstructed parallel paths for the reciprocating head assembly to transverse the entire front face of the framework; and

(e) pushing means mounted on said framework longitudinally movable for urging a mass of fibers in the container portion thereof forwardly against the holdback bars and against the fiber processing cylinders.

2. The machine of claim 1 in combination with mobile and completely removable transporting means for trans porting a bale of fiber, said transporting means comprising a rigid framework in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, a plurality of freely rotatable rolls mounted across the bottom of said parallelepiped forming a support for a bale of fibers and a plurality of freely rotatable confining rolls mounted vertically in two opposing parallel sides, said supporting rolls and confining rolls defining a container portion of the transporting means, said sides and bottom being so disposed that the container portion defined thereby is in longitudinal alignment with the conainer portion of the framework.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the ends of the individual holdback bars are provided with means to exert longitudinal tension on said holdback bars.

4. The machine of claim 1 wherein the pushing means comprises:

(a) a pair of elongated longitudinally extending tracks,

one track being secured each side of the framework;

(b) a truck member movably mounted on each track;

(c) a transversely disposed rectilinear rigid member secured between said truck members and disposed across the container portion of the framework, and said rectilinear rigid member approximating, but be ing slightly smaller than, the area of the open rear face of the framework and being adapted to contact the rear end of a bale of fibers in the container portion of the framework; and

(d) means attached to said truck member for exerting a force in a forward direction whereby a bale of fibers in the container portion is urged against the holdback bars and the peripheral teeth of the fiber protiiessing cylinders at the forward end of the framewor 5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the means attached to the truck member is adapted to exert a constant force.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,195,018 3/40 Benoit 19145.5 3,139,650 7/64 Diesel 19-145.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,266,665 6/61 France.

890,217 2/62 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR OPENING AND BLENDING STAPLES FIBER COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED MEMBERS JOINED TO FORM A RIGID FRAMEWORK DEFINING A RECTANGULAR PARALLELPIPED HAVING AN OPEN FRONT FACE AND AN OPEN REAR FACE; (B) A PLURALITY OF FREELY ROTATABLE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL, PARALLEL, CYLINDRICAL ROLLS TRANSVERSELY JOURNALLED IN SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS, SAID ROLLS DEFINING TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE WALLS OF A FIBER CONTAINER PORTION OF SAID FRAMEWORK; (C) A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY, PARALLEL, SPACED HOLDBACK BARS MOUNTED ACROSS THE FRONT FACE OF THE FRAMEWORK A GRID-LIKE CLOSURE FOR THE FRONT END OF SAID FRAMEWORK; (D) A RECIPROCATING HEAD ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAMEWORK IN FRONT OF SAID HOLDBACK BARS, SAID HEAD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOUSING, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL FIBER PROCESSING CYLINDERS EACH PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL TEETH AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND AXIALLY DISPOSED TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLDBACK BARS, COMBING AND 